Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 25 Sutra 3 - Arthashastra | Hindi | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 3

Devanagari script

ग्रामादनिर्णयणमसम्पातं च सुरायाः प्रमादभयात्कर्मसु ञ्जिर्दिष्टानां मर्यादातिक्रमभयादार्याणामुत्साहभयाच्च तीष्क्णानाम् ॥ कZ_०२.२५.०३ ॥

Transliteration

grāmād anirṇayaṇam asampātaṃ ca surāyāḥ pramādabhayāt karmasu ñjirdiṣṭānāṃ maryādātikramabhayād āryāṇām utsāhabhayāc ca tīṣkṇānām

Translation

वह मदिरा को गाँवों में ले जाने से रोके और मदिरा से जुड़े अनियंत्रित जमाव/उपद्रव को भी रोके—क्योंकि (इससे) नियत कार्यों में प्रमाद का भय, काम पर लगाए गए लोगों द्वारा मर्यादा-उल्लंघन का भय, और उग्र/तीक्ष्ण लोगों के कारण सभ्य/आदरणीय जनों के अति-उत्साह में पड़ जाने का भय है।

Word by Word

ग्रामात्from the village

अनिर्णयणम्non-adjudication; failure to decide (a case)

असम्पातम्non-appearance; failure to come/attend

चand

सुरायाःof liquor; of intoxicating drink

प्रमादdue to negligence/heedlessness

भयात्from fear; due to fear

कर्मसुin (their) duties/works

ञ्जिः(uncertain reading/term) ‘ñjiḥ’

दिष्टानाम्of those assigned/appointed; of those directed

मर्यादाof the boundary/limit; of the prescribed rule

अतिक्रमof transgression/overstepping

भयात्from fear; due to fear

आर्याणाम्of the respectable/noble persons

उत्साहof zeal/initiative

भयात्from fear; due to fear

चand

तीक्ष्णानाम्of the harsh/strict (persons)

Entities Mentioned

surā (liquor)

grāma (village)

ārya (respectable persons)

FAQs

What is the core governance objective of restricting surā movement and gatherings?

To prevent intoxication-driven negligence, disorderly assemblies, and rule-breaking that threaten productivity and public order.

How does this reflect Kautilya’s approach to regulation?

Preventive control: manage risk upstream (distribution and congregation) rather than only punishing downstream harms.